Duterte to get probe report vs. PCSO execs by January

MANILA — The results of the investigation against the officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) will likely be submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte in early January, the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) said on Tuesday.

PACC chairperson Dante Jimenez said so far, the PCSO officials are still undergoing lifestyle check.

“Pinapa-lifestyle check lang namin. Medyo tinatrabaho na yung desisyon (We’re conducting a lifestyle check [on PCSO officials]. We’re doing our best to come up with a decision),” Jimenez told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

“Mga early January, naka-table na ‘yun eh (By early January, it’s being tabled to be submitted to the President),” he added.

On August 14, PACC commissioner Greco Belgica said Malacañang had submitted the names of erstwhile and incumbent PCSO board members, managers, and agents who will be subject to investigation.

Belgica said the 15 PCSO officials will undergo lifestyle check, as they hold “critical” and “important” positions.

Jimenez raised the possibility that the PCSO personnel might face charges for alleged irregularities.

“I don’t know pero under investigation pa (but it’s still under investigation),” he said when quizzed if the PCSO officials will be held accountable for their supposed involvement in corruption.

“Sa tingin ko (I guess so),” the PACC chief added when pressed about the possibility of filing charges against the supposedly corrupt PSCO officials.

The PACC was prompted to investigate the alleged corrupt PCSO officials and employees after Duterte on July 26 ordered the suspension of all games operated by the state gaming firm, including lotto, Small Town Lottery (STL), Keno, and Peryahan ng Bayan, because of “massive” corruption.

Duterte, however, lifted on July 31 the suspension order of lotto operations in the country, since the lottery game “remained untainted.”

On August 22, the President also ordered the resumption of STL operations, on condition that the authorized agent corporations (AACs) would comply with the government’s new rules and regulations.

The rest of the PCSO-licensed games remain non-operational, until Duterte’s office completes the results of investigation of supposed corrupt practices in the state gaming agency.